AMERICAN IDOLS: LOOKING AT OURSELVES AND OUR LOYALTIES THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS
THE IDOL OF LAISSEZ FAIRE: PERGAMUM
REVELATION 2:12-17
Sermon Objective: The Pergamum church was accommodating those within its body that taught doctrines and lived lives which offended God. Their open-minded, laissez-faire attitude was a cancer on the church.
Supporting Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:17; Acts 4:12; Matthew 6:24; James 4:4; Proverbs 24:11; Galatians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Luke 12:4-5; Ephesians 6:12
Series Intro
We began a series earlier this month called “American Idols: Looking at Ourselves and Our Loyalties Through the Eyes of Jesus”
There are two categories of idols:
{1} an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed.
{2} any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion.
Our concern is with the latter. There are a myriad of “things” which could be classified as an idol … they are limited only by the passions of the individual in question. But there are certain dispositions or demeanors that our culture serves and pursues as an end in themselves … they have become idolatrous.
What we discover in “The Revelation” is that they are not just limited to our culture but that others have also pursued these with “blind devotion”. We have looked at Ephesus’ fallacy of superiority and Smyrna’s temptation to shop for a more convenient faith, others will include:
• Tolerance – The Church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) • Leisure – The Church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) • Stoicism – The Church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) • Independence – The Church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)
Today we will look at the church in Pergamum and the danger of a Laissez-Faire attitude. It is found in Rev. 2:12-17.
Intro
It sets inland from Ephesus and Smyrna about 65 miles. What it lacked in way of commerce (no harbor) it clearly made up for in culture and power. Pergamum was the capital of Asia-Minor; it had retained that title for some 400 years. It had guarded that role and responsibility very rigorously.
Culturally, Pergamum was a powerhouse. It boasted of a library with over 200,000 parchments (second only to Alexandria), many fabulous statues, a gladiator arena (which also doubled as the place for executions), a beautiful view of the Caicus valley, and more temples than any other of the seven cities. IN FACT, IT WAS CLASSIFIED AS “THE TEMPLE WARDEN” AND WAS THE CENTER OF THE EMPEROR CULT.
In Will Durant’s work, “The Story of Civilization” (Vol. 2) he describes this:
“At the center and summit of …the city was the shrine of the city god; participation in the worship of the god was the sign, the privilege, and the requisite of citizenship. In the spring, the Greek cities celebrated the Athesterion, or feast of flowers, a three-day festival to Dionysus [a chief deity at Pergamum!] in which wine flowed freely and everybody was more or less drunk. At the end of March came the great Dyonysia, a widely observed series of processional and plays accompanied by general revelry. At the beginning of April various cities … celebrated [Aphrodite’s] great festival, the Aphrodisia; and on that occasion, for those who cared to take part, sexual freedom was the order of the day” (The Story of Civilization [New York: Simon and Schuster, 1939], vol. 2, Life of Greece, pp. 75, 185).
Civically and politically Pergamum had no rivals. It had long ago set its sights on being the most pro-roman city in Asia Minor. It succeeded. It was a royal city. IT WAS CALLED “THE EASTERN THRONE OF ROME.” AS CAPITAL IT HAD ALL THE BENEFITS AND RIGHTS THERETO. IT WAS IN PERGAMUM THAT COURT WAS HELD FOR ALL OF ASIA MINOR. ONLY PERGAMUM HAD THE STATUS OF “THE RIGHT OF THE SWORD" (IUS GLADII) WHICH MEANT THAT ONLY HERE COULD A PROCONSUL SENTENCE ONE TO AN EXECUTION WITHOUT FIRST APPEALING TO ROME. IN FACT, IT WAS IN PERGAMUM THAT THE OTHER CITIES MADE THEIR APPEAL TO ROME. PERGAMUM HAD THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH AND IT USED IT. THE SWORD WAS ITS INSIGNIA.
In Smyrna, the opposition to the Christians came from the citizens. In Pergamum it came from the highest of levels of government. And this government was intimately connected to its religion; and this did not bode well for the counter-cultural Christian community. Pergamum’s coalescence of religion and government is probably the reason why Jesus says it is “the throne of Satan” and “where Satan lives.” There was no check on its power to ravage its opposition. It was here, more than any of the other cities, that the Domitian’s hatred for Christians was incarnate and violent.
Let’s read the words of Jesus:
Revelation 2:12"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
The combined ferocity of the temple cult and Roman throne was so entrenched in Pergamum that the people of the town adopted a “Laissez-faire” mentality. Rather than articulate strong feelings, and rather than draw clear lines in the sand regarding where they stood on issues, they chose to allow events to take their own course and let people do what they choose. THE TERM, LAISSEZ-FAIRE, IS A FRENCH PHRASE LITERALLY MEANING "LET IT BE" OR "LEAVE IT ALONE". And no one would be more advised to promote this type of thinking than the Church since they were already in the cross-hairs!
Some good Christians in the church felt they were better off letting the other Christians decide for themselves how to practice their faith. They dare not critique those who chose a … shall we say … “plan for peaceful coexistence.” I mean, it could have been dangerous to preach messages from Paul parchments like: 2 Corinthians 6:17: “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
Or Peter’s words in Acts 4:12 says: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Some had decided that each believer should determine for themselves how to interact with the world’s system and the remainder would be wise to do the same … silently.
YOU KNOW … A “PRIVATE RELIGION.”
Words of Jesus like those found in Matthew 6:24: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Must be avoided or a severe penalty might be paid (think of Antipas’ fate).
The words Jesus’ brother found in James 4:4: “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” should probably be kept to one’s self too.
Laissez-faire was everywhere and pluralism reigned supreme. There was no safe place to voice one’s disapproval.
AND THE LAISSEZ-FAIRE ATTITUDE HAS BEEN NURTURED AND CODDLED IN OUR CULTURE TOO. “Live and Let Live” is an essential part of the Westerners identity these days. And the church is not immune. More and more people feel a sense of threat or ridicule when they stand for truth. More and more the church is being tempted to accommodate that which offends God. I mean … we wouldn’t want our tax exemption to be in jeopardy would we?
But “live and let live” almost assuredly produces spiritual death. We are never instructed in Scriptures to just let our brother or sister do their own thing. We are our brother’s keepers.
† Proverbs 24:11 – “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”
† Galatians 6:1 – “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”
The laissez-faire mentality is infectious … because it is easy. And it creeps into a church with subtlety. It is, in fact, a tool of Satan. But, “We are not ignorant of Satan’s Devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11) and they are made rather clear in the Pergamum church. IT WAS CHANGING A GOOD CHURCH … A CHURCH WHICH HAD WITHSTOOD SOME SEVERE TRIBULATIONS … INTO A PASSIVE AND INEFFECTIVE CHURCH. IT WAS TAKING A CHURCH WHICH GOD COULD APPLAUD AND PLACING IT IN DANGER OF JUDGMENT.
What the Pergamum church needed to remember, and what we need to remember is:
1. THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE / SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY.
Jesus describes himself as the one who “who has the sharp, double-edged sword.” He further says: “Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” These are the words of the one who has the wisdom and authority to judge; the power of life and death. The Proconsul in Pergamum thought it had “The right of the sword” but Jesus reminds the church where the REAL authority lies.
Jesus said: “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” (Luke 12:4-5).
2. THERE IS A REAL ENEMY
Satan’s name means “enemy or adversary.” Balaam’s name, by the way, means “to conquer the people” (in Hebrew).
Never forget, the enemy is not other people … they are mere pawns. You must remember that, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12). People are slaves who need redeemed and set free by the power of the Gospel.
One of the prayers of the martyred is that their death will not be in vain but that the oppressors will see their hope and freedom and come to Jesus themselves.
There is power in opposing the enemy while loving those who are under his grip.
3. THE ENEMY WANTS TO ATTACK AND DESTROY CHRIST’S CHURCH
AND IF HE CAN NOT DO IT FROM WITHOUT (PERSECUTION) HE WILL DO IT FROM WITHIN!
(i) He will use deceit and false worship … which is idolatry.
The reference to Balaam gets to the heart of the issue. The story comes from Numbers 22-25. Balak, king of Moab, could not succeed in getting the prophet Balaam to curse Israel directly. But Balaam himself devised a plan whereby the daughters of the Moabites would seduce the Israelite men and lead them to sacrifice to their god Baal-peor and worship him (Num 25:1 ff.; 31:16; cf. 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11). So God’s judgment fell on Israel because of fornication and idolatry. What Balak was not able to accomplish directly, he accomplished through Balaam’s deception.
Balaam is the biblical prototype of a corrupt teacher who leads believers into fatal comprise.
(ii) He will seduce us to compromise.
Pergamum had some within the church (The Nicolaitans) which were teaching that accommodation with the culture was the wisest religio-political policy. This, like with Balaam, included eating in a temple food that was sacrificed to idols … THE FEASTS WERE WORSHIP SERVICES. The Nicolaitans were preaching a gospel of compromise solely to save their own skin. It was rational and logical in its articulation but God saw through it!
Let me be clear – the false doctrine of the Nicolaitans was not about matters of opinion or praxis (like modes of baptism or how to receive the Eucharist)… IT WAS A LICENSE TO SIN. It was a teaching giving Christians permission to engage in the immoral behavior of the day. When we look at the church in Thyatira we will give it more detail but there we see it referred to as “the deep things of Satan.”
Bruce Longenecker’s book, “The Lost Letters of Pergamum” (pp. 165-166) illustrates their teaching in a story about a Nicolaitan (Kalandion) that attended the Pergamum church. Kalandion is visiting a Christian who has been imprisoned for his faith.
“Kalandion had already visited him on several days in hope of deterring him from his persistent atheism. Kalandion, who is clearly concerned about his own reputation as a Christ worshiper, suggested that allegiance to Jesus Christ is not incompatible with worship of The Roman emperor and the lesser gods. Moreover, eating meat sacrificed to idols is not a religious offense. According to Kalandion, because all food comes from the most high god, and because idols have no real existence or power, Christians should not worry about eating sacrificed food. Demetrius thought that in principle, Kalandion’s argument about idol meat was correct. However, he felt that eating meat sacrificed to idols in the context of a guild banquet would signal his compliance with the imperial cult and would involve a compromise of his singular devotion to Jesus Christ.”
If the sin of Ephesus was harsh intolerance and superiority, the sin of the church at Pergamum was laissez-faire compromise that permitted the church to in participate false worship and sinful rituals.
Satan wants the church to lose its influence. He will do it by any means necessary. We must beware and be aware of His tactics. WE ARE PLAYING FOR KEEPS! THE STAKES ARE HIGH! PEOPLE’S SOULS … YOUR SOULS ARE AT STAKE!!!!!
4. THERE IS AN EXPECTATION (AND PROVISION) TO FAITHFULNESS
(i) Jesus offers a feast like none on earth.
Jesus promised: “I will give some of the hidden manna.”
Manna was called “the grain of Heaven” and the “Bread of angels” (Psalm 78:24-25). It was Heavenly food! In this world the Pergamenes could not share in the guild feasts because of Lordship conflicts but in Heaven … they would have full access!!!
The temple feasts are poor counterfeits for what await the faithful.
(ii)Jesus offers life like none on earth.
Jesus said … “To him who overcomes … I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”
His offer is a citizenship like none on earth … it is another kingdom. You see, the “white stone with a new name” is best understood as a pass or ticket. Among other uses the gladiators of Pergamum who fought with valor and had an illustrious career were allowed to retire in honor. They were given a permanent ticket to the games and allowed to be spectators instead of participants. This ticket was called a “tessera” and was a white stone with the word “spectatus” painted on it.
Jesus is assuring the Pergamum church that the faithful would receive entry and the rite of passage into His Kingdom. He was assuring them of a permanent rest!
Wrap-Up
We need to remember:
1. THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE / SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY.
2. THERE IS A REAL ENEMY
3. THE ENEMY WANTS TO ATTACK AND DESTROY CHRIST’S CHURCH
4. THERE IS AN EXPECTATION AND PROVISION TO FAITHFULNESS
Listen beloved. Accommodation is a real and present danger. It means you have become too intimately connected to the world around you. You are not a citizen of this empire … your citizenship is in heaven. It is easy to rationalize but the consequences are severe.
Listen beloved. Laissez-Faire is a real and present danger. It is not okay to let your brothers and sisters go on their merry way and do their own thing. They are your kin! We need to be vigorously stirring one another to faith and good works!
“I know where you live,” Jesus says, “where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.”
THE CHURCH IN PERGAMUM WAS A GOOD CHURCH … LIKE EPHESUS IT WAS DOING SOME AWESOME THINGS. BUT IT HAD A TENDENCY TO LET JUST ANYTHING GO AND SATAN WAS EXPLOITING THAT TENDENCY.
How about you? Do you find yourself inclined to “live and let live”? Do you find yourself tolerating the intolerable within yourself? Do you find yourself just allowing God’s people to swept away by false living simply because you don’t want to make waves? You cannot do that and love God and love your neighbor. If this is you … his call to you today is to “Repent.”
Let me close with a final word about “repentance.” In Scripture repentance is a one time act. THE WORD IS IN THE AORIST TENSE AND SUGGESTS ONE DEFINITE ACTION. IT IS MEANT TO BE A DECISIVE, ONE TIME ACT NOT AN ONGOING PRACTICE. WHEN GOD SAYS REPENT HE MEANS DROP THE SIN RIGHT WHERE YOU STAND AND WALK AWAY FROM IT … NEVER RETURN. It is God’s expectation. He never uses the term to suggest “repent again.” God demands, expects, and empowers us to do better.
And that is what he is calling you to today.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
** I offer special thanks (for the background information on the seven churches to T. Scott Daniels book “Seven Deadly Spirits”, to William Barclay’s commentary on Revelation and to W. M. Ramsay’s archeological accounts given in: “The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia”.
